After multiple women have accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment which they say occurred over the past few decades, Weinstein may soon be indicted.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. will pursue an indictment against Weinstein next week, sources told The New York Post’s Page Six on Tuesday.
Officials familiar with the investigation also confirmed to News 4 New York that the DA’s office is expected to present its case against Weinstein to a grand jury as early as next week.
Though many in Hollywood have said that Weinstein’s abuse was an “open secret” in the industry, the possible indictment comes after New York Times and New Yorker reports detailed dozens of allegations. Those articles prompted even more women to speak out about their experiences with Weinstein over the years.
Weinstein reportedly tried to stop the publication of those New York Times and New Yorker articles which sparked his downfall, according to a new report published by the New Yorker on Monday.
“In the fall of 2016, Harvey Weinstein set out to suppress allegations that he had sexually harassed or assaulted numerous women,” the article opens. “He began to hire private security agencies to collect information on the women and the journalists trying to expose the allegations.”
Women’s stories have trickled in since the initial reports, and on Tuesday were compiled into one powerful list by Asia Argento, an Italian actress who says Weinstein raped her and was one of the main women in the New Yorker piece exposing Weinstein.
100+ women
assaulted/molested/harassed by #Weinstein. 18 women raped.
This is our updated list #NOSHAMEFIST https://t.co/G5LIfTkgvk— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) November 7, 2017
Argento tweeted out a Google Doc detailing the stories of more than 100 women who say they have been assaulted, molested and/or harassed by Weinstein.
The list provides a timeline, beginning in 1980, when Paula Wachonak alleges that Weinstein “answered the door wearing nothing but a hand towel.” The list includes 18 women who say that they were raped by the film producer.
On Friday, the New York Police Department said that they have a “credible” rape allegation against Weinstein and were in the process of gathering evidence that could lead to a possible arrest. On Oct. 12, NYPD had confirmed that the department was looking into addition complaints against Weinstein for an investigation after multiple reports first surfaced.
